Kareeming to be Tested at Flemington

Four-year-old Kareeming has won four of his ten career starts and placed in another two, however the gelding has yet to be tested beyond a Benchmark 70 level race.

Damian Lane will be aboard Kareeming for the fourth straight time on Saturday in the Comic Court Handicap. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

All that will change on Saturday with trainer Pat Carey deciding to run Kareeming in the $80,000 Comic Court Handicap (2000m) at Flemington Racecourse, which is a Benchmark 90, to test the waters.

While Kareeming had originally been entered in the Skipton Handicap (2000m) on the same day, a hefty weight of 61.5kg caused Carey to choose the Comic Court Handicap instead, where the gelding will carry the minimum weight of 54kg.

“I had two options with him, as I had him in the ‘Benchmark 70’ where he had 61.5kgs, or the ‘90’ on the minimum,” Carey told Racing Network.

“I decided he was better off on the minimum in the better grade race than to carry the big weight.

“He’s not a big horse.

“This will tell us how far he’s come in the short-term.

“His pedigree suggests he’ll get a mile and a quarter (2000m).

“One thing is sure, this is the right race and the right place for us to find out.”

Kareeming is offering odds of $11 in the Comic Court Handicap betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au for which the Darren Weir-trained Taiyoo is the favourite after winning a Benchmark 84 over 1800m last time out.

Despite winning his last three consecutive starts in Mornington, Sale, and Kyneton, Carey admits Saturday’s run will be a test for Kareeming seeing as his three wins were in restricted grade races. But he’s confident the gelding will give it his best and rise to the challenge.

“This is a quantum leap, I know that, but the horse is in good form and has his confidence up so we’ll find a few things out,” he said.

Kareeming will have to overcome a jump from the widest barrier with Damian Lane in the saddle once again.